Renault Duster vs Volkswagen Taigun AC performance compared

One of the harshest things for a car’s climate control system is dealing with high ambient temperature and humidity on a regular basis. This is true for many locations across the country, where summer daytime temperatures can easily climb past 40 degrees celcius. During our time testing the climate control systems of the Renault Duster and Volkswagen Taigun this May, the ambient temperature on site was a sweltering 42.2 degrees celcius. So, how did these midsize SUVs cope? Let’s find out.

Explore full specs, features and a price breakdown in our Duster vs Taigun comparison.

Autocar India’s testing methodology

In preparation for the test, each car is parked under direct sunlight for two hours with its engine switched off and windows rolled up. Sunroof shades are kept closed, but rear window shades are rolled away. Once a car is ‘soaked’, a two member team enters the vehicle quickly to minimise loss of heat - our job is to simulate a worst case scenario. Each car is rigged with sophisticated test gear provided by Zen Microsystems. Five thermocouple sensors read ambient temperature, cabin temperature, vent temperature (it captures how cold the air is), front-seat temperature (measured near the driver's ear) and rear-seat temperature (measured at the rear centre armrest).

Five thermocouple sensors plugged into a data logger provided instantaneous temperature readouts.

Front vents are directed at the driver's face, while rear vents are aimed at the rear-seat centre occupant. As the car is switched on, climate control is set to recirculation mode, maximum blower speed and the lowest possible temperature. Temperature readings are recorded after one minute of idling, and then after an interval of every five minutes (up until 15 minutes) of driving over a fixed route at 50-60kph. A final reading is taken after another minute of idling. 

A key disclaimer: Ambient temperatures and humidity have a big bearing on cooling performance. Hence, our results are from vehicles tested on the same day, and these may vary for you based on your location and ambient conditions.

Renault Duster vs VW Taigun AC test

1. Renault Duster front and rear AC performance

At the onset, the temperature at the front of the Renault Duster’s cabin was 51.2 degrees celcius. This fell by 5.7 degrees celcius in a minute of starting the car’s dual-zone climate control system. After driving around for 5 minutes, the drop in temperature at the front of the cabin was a marked 18 degree celcius since commencing the Duster’s AC performance test. The front cabin temperature at the end of 15 minutes of driving dropped by 20.7 degrees celcius, climbing by 4 degrees celcius towards the end of our AC test.

The highest recorded temperature at the rear of the Renault Duster was 1.2 degrees celcius lower than that at the front. It dipped by 5.5 degrees celcius in the first one minute of idling and with the climate control system set to its coldest setting. At the end of 5 minutes of driving, the rear cabin temperature was identical to that measured up front. The rear cabin temperature at the end of 15 minutes of driving was comparable to the front too, separated by just 0.5 degrees celcius. At the end of this AC stress test, the rear of the Duster’s cabin witnessed a drop of 16.5 degrees celcius.

2. Volkswagen Taigun front and rear AC performance

After turning on its automatic climate control system to its coldest setting, the VW Taigun’s front cabin temperature fell by a steep 13.3 degrees celcius. It dropped by another 10.5 degrees celcius within 5 minutes of driving, going as low as 26.7 degrees celcius (signifying a drop of 27.3 degrees celcius since the start of this test). During the final minute of idling with the AC still at its coldest setting, the Taigun’s cabin temperature up front rose by 3.8 degrees celcius, but the overall drop in temperature since the commencement of this test was a marked 23.5 degrees celcius.

Unlike at the front, the rear cabin temperature of the VW Taigun remained below 50 degrees celcius from the onset of this AC stress test. It measured a drop of 7.3 degrees celcius during the first minute, thereafter dropping by another 11.7 degrees celcius in 5 minutes of driving. The lowest temperature recorded at the rear of the Taigun was 26 degrees celcius, which is a fall of 22.5 degrees celcius over a span of 16 minutes. Apart from a single instance, the rear of the Taigun’s cabin remained cooler than the front during this AC performance test.